by Malcolm Butler
Louisiana Tech will kick off the 2026 season Saturday night when the Bulldogs host Northwestern State at Origin Bank Field at Joe Aillet Stadium.
Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. with the game airing on ESPN+.
The Bulldogs enter their fifth season under head coach Sonny Cumbie after posting an 8-5 record in 2025, their most victories since 2019. Tech closed the season with three consecutive wins, including a 23-14 victory over Coastal Carolina in the Independence Bowl.
Saturday also marks Louisiana Tech’s first game as a member of the Sun Belt Conference.
“I’m excited about our football team,” Cumbie said. “I think the core of our team is really strong.”
Northwestern State comes to Ruston after opening its season with a 42-37 loss to Louisiana Christian last week in Natchitoches.
Despite the loss, the Demons showed plenty of offensive firepower, piling up 525 yards while scoring on their first seven possessions and taking a 27-14 lead into halftime. Northwestern State was hurt by mistakes, turning the ball over three times, including twice in the red zone, and committing 12 penalties.
Quarterback Abram Johnston threw for 318 yards and accounted for three touchdowns, while running back Zay Davis rushed for 125 yards and a score.
Cumbie said the Demons’ performance got the Bulldogs’ attention.
“You can’t compare and you can’t forecast what’s gonna happen,” Cumbie said. “You have to work hard, you have to prepare, you have to execute.”
Cumbie said the Demons present plenty of challenges despite their struggles over the past two seasons.
“What I see on film is a powerful running back that’s going to be hard to tackle, a quarterback that’s played a lot of football, the deepest, strongest offensive line that Northwestern State has ever had,” Cumbie said.
Northwestern State is in its third season under head coach Blaine McCorkle, who believes the Demons enter 2026 with more talent and depth than either of his first two teams.
“I think our talent level is better,” McCorkle said. “I think our depth is better. I think our locker room is night and day different.”
Youth remains a significant part of the Northwestern State roster, with 71 players having at least three seasons of eligibility remaining. McCorkle said the Demons now have to turn the improvement he has seen throughout the program into results.
“I think we’re a much better football team,” McCorkle said. “Now we’ve got to go prove it.”
Louisiana Tech returns a veteran nucleus from last year’s eight-win team. Quarterback Blake Baker returns to direct the Bulldogs’ offense, while Trey Kukuk could also see action.
Nathan Young takes over as offensive coordinator following Tony Franklin’s retirement. Young previously coached Tech’s offensive line but will now coach the quarterbacks.
The Bulldogs return several experienced targets in the passing game, led by tight end Eli Finley. Jay Wilkerson, Luke Watkins, Jalen Mickens and Dedrick Latulas are also back, while Oklahoma State transfer Talyn Shettron adds another option at receiver.
The running back position will feature several new faces after Tech lost its leading rushers from last season. Jaden Miller, a transfer from Keiser, and sophomore Dylone Brooks — a Ruston High product — are among those expected to get opportunities in the backfield.
Defensively, Tech returns several key contributors from a unit that led Conference USA in scoring defense, rushing defense and red-zone defense last season. The linebacker corps features veterans Kolbe Fields, Jadon Mayfield and Zheric Hill, while Jordan McRae returns in the secondary.
Saturday renews one of the oldest series in Louisiana Tech football history. The Bulldogs and Demons will meet for the 81st time, with Tech holding a 55-20-5 advantage. The schools first played in 1907 and met annually in Shreveport as part of the State Fair Game from 1946-87.
Tech has won three of the four meetings since moving to the FBS level, including a 51-21 victory in Ruston in 2023. Northwestern State’s lone win during that stretch came in 2014, when the Demons upset the Bulldogs 30-27 at Joe Aillet Stadium.
McCorkle said the proximity between the two schools adds another element to the matchup.
“Excited about the regional rival with Tech,” McCorkle said. “We have a history of playing a lot of times over the years. I know our kids will be really excited to go up there and play against a lot of people that they know.”
Saturday begins a challenging opening stretch for the Bulldogs. Tech travels to Baton Rouge to face LSU on Sept. 12 before visiting Baylor on Sept. 19.
For Cumbie, however, the immediate concern is simply starting the season the right way.
“You have to work hard, you have to prepare, you have to execute,” Cumbie said. “And that’s where our focus has to be.”
